[ad_1]
PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) – Governor Kate Brown announced Tuesday that some indoor activities, such as gyms and movie theaters, in Oregon may reopen with limited capacity starting Friday.
However, the new changes do not apply to indoor dining, which has been banned for more than two months in counties labeled as extreme risk due to the coronavirus pandemic, including Multnomah – the most populous county in state and home to Portland.
“Science has shown us that outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities when it comes to the spread of COVID 19, which is why we have clearly defined directions between indoor and outdoor activities,” said the Governor Brown in a statement Tuesday. “We’ve seen over the past few weeks that Oregonians have largely complied with risk levels to the point that we haven’t seen an increase in hospitalizations that would have jeopardized hospital capacity. It means we can make those adjustments. “
This photo shows patrons of Prost, a bar in North Portland, as they drink together in the final hours before a state-mandated bar and restaurant closes on March 16, 2020 in Portland, in Oregon.
Jonathan Levinson / OPB
The new modifications allow a maximum of six people indoors in facilities larger than 500 square feet. The company will have to follow cleaning protocols and people will be required to socialize and wear a face mask. For facilities less than 500 square feet, the amended guidelines allow for one-on-one customer experiences, such as personal training.
In addition, the governor announced updates to the county risk levels.
Beginning Friday, Grant County will move to the moderate risk level and Tillamook and Curry counties will move to the lower risk level. Twenty-five counties remain at extreme risk.
“Most of the state remains in the extreme risk category,” Brown. said, “This is an important reminder for all Oregonians to continue to do their part by complying with the health and safety guidelines in place.”
The ad has been criticized by the Oregon restaurant industry, as many cafes and dinners remain limited to take-out or alfresco dining. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association noted that the recent rise in unemployment in the state was due to job losses in the service sector, with restaurants struggling to cope with restrictions to limit the spread of COVID. -19.
“It doesn’t make sense to me how I can have all this space to safely distribute my customers around my restaurant and the government keeps telling me I can’t use it when I know I can. do it safely, ”said Treva Gambs, owner of Italian restaurants Gamberetti in Salem and Albany, in an ORLA statement released on Tuesday, following the governor’s announcement.
The Oregon Health Authority reviews and adjusts county risk levels every two weeks. The next announcement will be made on February 9.
OPB contributed additional reporting on this Associated Press story.
[ad_2]
Source link